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New Student Reader

New Student
Reader2012-2013
Book

Picking Cotton: Our Memoir
of Injustice

and Redemption

by Jennifer
Thompson and Ronald Cotton

with Erin Torneo

About the Book

Jennifer Thompson was raped at
knifepoint by a man who broke into
her apartment while she slept. She
was able to escape, and eventually
positively identified Ronald Cotton
as her attacker. Ronald insisted
that she was mistaken-- but
Jennifer's positive identification
was the compelling evidence that put
him behind bars. After eleven years,
Ronald was allowed to take a DNA
test that proved his innocence. He
was released, after serving more
than a decade in prison for a crime
he never committed. Two years later,
Jennifer and Ronald met face to
face-- and forged an unlikely
friendship that changed both of
their lives.

In their own words, Jennifer and
Ronald unfold the
harrowing details of their
tragedy, and challenge our ideas
of memory and judgment while
demonstrating the profound
nature of human grace and the
healing power of forgiveness.

About the Authors

Jennifer
Thompson, a native North Carolinian and mother
of teenage triplets, has become an outspoken opponent on the
death penalty and speaks frequently about the need for
judicial reform. She is a member of the Actual Innocence
Commission, advisory committee for Active Voices, member of
the Constitution Project, and Mother's for Justice.

Ronald
Cottonlives
with his wife and daughter in North Carolina and currently
works at an insulation plant. He has spoken at various
schools and conferences including Washington and Lee
University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Georgetown Law
School, and the Community March for Justice for Troy Anthony
Davis in Savannah, GA.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the New Student Reader
Program is to orient new students to our academic community
at Salisbury University by having a common reading
experience with fellow classmates, faculty, staff, and
upper-class students who serve as orientation team peer
leaders.

The goal of the New Student Reader
Program is to engage students in discussions, projects,
curricular, and co-curricular opportunities generated by a
common reading experience.

Campus book signing by New Student Reader special
guests, Jennifer Thompson and Richard Cotton

Committee Members of
the New Student Reader Program

Lawanda Dockins-Mills – Fall 2004

Co-Chair;
Interim Associate Dean of Students

MelissaBoog -
Spring 2012

Co-Chair; Assistant
Vice President of Academic Affairs

Vaughn White – Fall 2004

Director, Multicultural Student Service

Leigh Ann DePope – Fall 2009

Faculty/Serials/Electronic
Services Librarian

Nancy Michelson -
Fall 2010

Faculty/Education

Vicki Willey - Fall
2010

Faculty/English

Helena Hill - Fall
2010

Judicial Case Coordinator/Office of Student Affairs

Elizabeth Iannelli -
Spring 2012

Coordinator of Student Records/Registrats Office

Jonathan Colon -
Spring 2012

Advising Services Coordinator/Fulton School of Liberal Arts

Andrea Booth -
Spring 2012

Administrative Assistant/Guerrieri University Center Office

Samanta Greenberg - Summer 2012

Student

For additional information
about the public event or about the New Student Reader
Program, please contact Lawanda Dockins-Mills, Co-Chair, New
Student Reader Committee
at 410-543-6100. Co-Chair, New
Student Reader Committee
at 410-543-6100.